Another year, another list. This year comedy became my day job, not in the way I dreamed, but it became a day job nonetheless — as assistant to the booker of 3 comedy clubs in Northern California. So yes, between performing on shows myself on nights off or catching some of the visiting headliners, plus watching clips and promoting comics during the day, I indeed saw a lot of comedy. Here are some of my favorites of the year:

Dana Gould

One of my favorite comics to visit the Punch Line this year was Dana Gould. He’s a veteran comic and wrote for The Simpson’s, he’s well-respected in the comedy community and loved by comedy nerds, but he still isn’t a household name and that’s why he’s on this list. Sadly Dana and his wife divorced this year, and when I saw him perform it cemented a theory of mine that comics get funnier after they get divorced. Ughh, I feel really bad saying it, but I think it’s true! There’s a kind of a “f*%k it I can say what I want” kind of attitude that comes out, a kind of fearlessness and true vulnerability that I’ve noticed with comics who get divorced (like with Louis CK after his divorce). Watching Dana was a comedy highlight of the year for me, and I spent many an hour listening to his podcast The Dana Gould Hour.

Sammy Obeid

Just read his breakdown of 2013 to get the idea of how hard this guy works, and how much this guy loves stand-up comedy. Before his Conan set I saw Sammy Obeid slay a San Francisco Cafe Royale audience. Having not seen him a long time, I was wholly impressed by how good he had gotten. I guess that’s what happens when you commit yourself fully to a craft. Sammy performed stand-up comedy consecutively for 1,001 nights and it shows. His late night TV debut on Conan was stellar:

Phil Hanley

Phil Hanley wins the award for making my day job the easiest ever. His one-liner jokes were perfect for promotional tweets and memes on Facebook:

I believe the current trend in comedy to tell stories and be conversational has left me really aching for good old-fashioned JOKES. Phil Hanley has good ones in spades and serves them up tough like a cold hard sensei.

Jasper Redd

I was fortunate enough to open for Jasper a couple weekends ago in Sonoma. When I was watching him I found myself getting angry at show business. I found myself thinking, “Why the hell is this guy not famous?” He’s so funny, such a great writer and performer with smart jokes and unique delivery. Well, take notice Hollywood, you’ve got true talent in your foothills:

Caitlin Gill

It’s hard to not think of her as the comedian Lady Liberty of San Francisco, glowing, radiant, kindly showing Bay Area comics where you are able to go with discipline and passion for the art. I’ve seen her grow into a comedy beast, and I love every minute of watching her perform. I get the sense that she’s seconds away from blowing up, reaching success and a move to LA will become inevitable. See her as much as you can, San Francisco, she’s a comedy treasure!

Imaginary Radio

Another comedy highlight of 2013 was watching the development of Nick Stargu and Drennon Davis’ musical comedy group Imaginary Radio. They’re just flat out fun, entertaining and FUNNY. Their incredible talent and unique act will take them far, I’m sure.

Pete Holmes

I remember the first time I listened to You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes I was annoyed by this guy who talked too much. I couldn’t stand it! But guess what? When I first heard Weezer, Radiohead, Joanna Newsom, they all sounded odd to my ears. At first I hated them, but somehow they grew on me to the point where I loved them so much and couldn’t stop listening. Such is the case with Pete Holmes. This year I delved into his podcast, and completely fell in love with Pete Holmes. He’s so incredibly like-able, and listening to his podcast is dangerous, verging on psychopathic because you develop a connection with a stranger, a friendship the other party has no idea of. Join the cult of Pete so I don’t feel like such a nut!

Duncan is a straight-up guru. I hate the word spiritual because of all the “spiritual” people I have met through life who are also assholes. And because of that history I’ve been really closed to anything “spiritual” in my adult life. It’s rare to have a podcast truly change you or open your eyes, but Duncan’s did. I credit him and his podcast for helping me be more loving and open to new ideas. Plus, listening to him really makes me want to experience doing mushrooms on the beach. ; )

I became a dork about The Dork Forest this year. Jackie Kashian interviews people about the one or many things they are head-over-heels dorky about. What’s not to love about people dishing passionately on what they’re totally passionate about?!? Some of my favorite episodes include: Felicia Michaels talking about her lunch box obsession, and Janeane Garofalo specifying which beads she really goes crazy for. Every time I listened to the podcast I thought about how my boyfriend (who is nerdy about zoos, reptiles and skateboarding) would be perfect on the show. And sure enough I got him on it: EP 208 with Ben Aller.

And that’s it, folks. Check out past years: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009. I’m looking forward to all the great comedy I’ll be seeing in 2014! Happy New Year!

I finally got my first ’49er Pendleton jacket. I’ve been keeping my eye out for awhile for one with colors that grabbed me. I saw this one on ebay and I knew it was THE ONE. I was drawn to the warm colors; mustard, red and navy blue. I’ve definitely been in a comfort/casual phase as I’ve been actively trying to get more vintage casual pieces. I want cottons, cozy knits, wool jackets…. I already purchased a second Pendleton jacket (one with knit sleeves!) and I’m looking into making my first Freddies of Pinewood jeans purchase (I hope they’ll be as good as I hear!). I hope you all in the US have a fun and cozy Thanksgiving!

Haven’t done an outfit post in a while, be it time constraints, or just plain ol’ lack of sartorial inspiration, but I finally had the urge to do one because I wanted to capture this outfit fully because it became such a surprise love affair. You know what I mean? You kind of just throw something together, put it on, and then realize you love absolutely everything about it? This was that.

The colors are so perfect for Fall, with the kind of patinaed hues you’d see in a display of vintage bakelite bangles– rust, dark green, goldenrod, but what I love about this outfit is the combination of an awesome print mix–brigitte bardot babe print and butterflies– with the depth of textures–thick leather, crisp cotton, soft chenille.

Thank you all for the comments on my last post! I love knowing it resonated with so many of you and I especially loved hearing your own vintage horror stories as well. So glad I’m not alone in suffering from coveting/hoarding/spending too much and all other vintage-related ailments!

So guess what? Collecting and wearing vintage isn’t all celluloid unicorns and bakelite rainbows. It can also be nasty, dirty, and a real pain in the ass. But I’ll never stop loving vintage, even despite these 12 Ugly Sides of it:

1. SIN
You will break one of the Ten Commandments. You may not kill, but you will most likely worship some false idols. Who hasn’t bowed in front of a rack of glorious bakelite (and maybe taken the lord’s name in vain)?

Some folks instagram photos of arms decked with carved and polished bangles, you tell me #thedailybake isn’t our version of the stations of the cross? And covet thy neighbor? HELLO! How could you not want a 40s Mexican jacket because of Atomic Redhead?

You probably never thought in your wildest dreams that you would need a vintage birds in flight sweater in your life, but now it haunts you.

2. ADDICTION
I’m not trying to downplay true addiction. I know jonesing for a vintage score isn’t the same as shooting heroin. But when you find yourself antsy because haven’t been surrounded by antiques in a while, haven’t pawed through racks of old clothes in 5 days.. it kind of feels like you might have a problem. A fun one!

3. PACKED CLOSETS
Oh no! First world problem. But hey, it is kind of a problem when you can’t find that 1940s knit skirt that you NEED to go with your new 40s novelty print blouse. Where the hell is that skirt?!?! And you can include clutter and dust mites in this category, oh, and an irrational fear of moths.

4. THE NEVER-ENDING MENDING PILE
Get used to the sound of precious fabric tearing! There’s pretty much no way around it.

I’m afraid to say that there are dresses that have been sitting in that pile for close to 2 years now.

5. EPIC WASHING FAILS
Oh yes, it will happen to you, just wait. Twice now I’ve sadly shrunk gorgeous 1940s dresses that used to fit me like a glove. You’ll learn to not wash as much as you can and use those sexy underarm guards!

6. EBAY BATTLES
Every once and awhile you will pay way more than what you really wanted to spend for that Edwardian blouse, perfect 1940s top hat tilt, or Hawaiian Shaheen because ebay auctions SUCK YOU IN!

7. “UPCYCLED” FACEPALMS
Occasionally you will see people misuse or mistreat vintage. This will make you physically ill.

8. EMPTY WALLETS
Say goodbye to your hard-earned cash. Yes you can do vintage on a budget, but when you catch that vintage bug and find yourself absolutely needing a genuine 1950s matching playsuit in your life, be prepared to fork over some serious bread. And be careful – once you make your first steep vintage purchase it’s a true slippery slope.

(one of my most expensive, most impractical vintage purchases!)

I find myself sometimes rationalizing a large purchase, “I can buy this 1940s hat for $100 because I found one the other day at a thrift store for $4 so it kind of evens out!” Sometimes I think of what I could be spending my money on if I weren’t collecting vintage: Travel, retirement, going out with friends, good food. (Note to self: transfer some money into my IRA!) And yes, sometimes prices are SO obnoxious. $150 for a cotton 50s dress? A house dress some lady made with scraps… who today I bet would be like, “WHAAAAA…? You want to spend a $150 on that piece of garbage?”

9. FIT OR FAT
One thing you’ll notice about pre-1960s vintage is that there is no spandex in it! In modern clothes you can gain weight, and keep gaining weight, and you’ll be none the wiser. With vintage you’ll know immediately when that 50s shirtwaist dress isn’t fitting around your waist. And there might be nothing sadder than not being able to fit in your most favorite dress of all time. Upside to this downside: you’ll realize you’re getting fat and hopefully take some life-changing measures. Me? Work in progress. Probably why I’ve been more interested in collecting hats and jewelry, they will always fit!

10. THAT THRIFT STORE SMELL… AND HEALTH RISKS?
Ahhh, that good ol’ thrift store stench. You know what it is? Mold. So says, The Doctors! And there’s been many a time where some vintage I ordered online comes shipped to my house with cigarette smoke attached, free of charge! And there are times where garments, no matter how often I try to wash them, have a built-in olfactory archive of all the armpits that have ever been near that fabric.

Yeah, I love me some bakelite, but that’s formaldehyde smell and that’s rubbing on your skin, hence seeping into your bloodstream…. they stopped making it for a reason! Do I still want it? Hell yeah!

11. BED BUGS
Yikes! This is a for real concern for anyone who buys second-hand clothing or furniture. Inspect furniture, and clean thoroughly. As soon as you come home with any vintage clothing from thrift stores, or even vintage online sellers, wash if you can in hot water and dry with high heat. If that’s not possible, get out your iron and steam those garments. Bed bugs will die from high heat, and steamers are what professionals use to get rid of them.

12. STRANGERS COMMENTING ON YOUR APPEARANCE ALL THE TIME
See this post.

The current mainstream trend of 1990s fashion/pop culture/nostalgia has brought with it….. curls. Glorious natural CURLS! Is it possible that Andie Macdowell and Minnie Driver curls are as popular as babydoll dresses, combat boots, crop tops, plaid and high waisted denim are right now?

I’m STOKED (with the full 90s sense of the word) that curls are being seen, being popularized by these ads/stars/streetstyle blogs. And I think subconsciously it may have influenced me to just wear my hair naturally curly lately, well that and not having the desire to put the time and effort into trying to do Dita Von Teese 40s waves and victory rolls. Although in my vintage hair research I did find one example of a 40s actress who worked with natural curls, Ann Miller:

Earlier this year I watched Ken Burns’ documentary Prohibition and was inspired to be a suffragist for Halloween. I had no idea that the prohibition helped fuel the women’s suffrage movement in the US. Thanks to some Downton Abbey obsessing I independently had bought an Edwardian blouse on Ebay so I already had part of the costume down. Took a look in my hat and purse collection, modified my Past Queen sash, stopped by a trusty vintage shop for a black velvet skirt, and voila — Suffragist costume accomplished.

I could’ve exerted even more effort and made a sign or pennant, but I did download a couple authentic women’s suffrage leaflets and printed out a few to hand out to people.

Now, just adding zombie to a costume is pretty hacky, and I’m aware of that, but I can’t help wanting to be a bit spooky for Halloween. And in a way I like that this costume is a direct result of some of the entertainment I’ve loved and consumed over this year; my love for Lady Sybil Crawley on Downton Abbey, finally being afraid of zombies because of The Walking Dead series, and learning history through Ken Burns’ documentaries.

Have to thank Google Images for inspiration photos, and authentic leaflets. And makeup courtesy of Katie’s Makeup.

Because of the placement of the holiday this year, I managed to dress up a few times and get some mileage out of the same costume. I wore it to the Alameda Vintage Fashion Fair and won 2nd place in their costume contest!

I plan on trick-or-treating with my niece and nephew tonight in the same costume, minus the makeup. Just a suffragist for All Hollow’s Eve! What are you dressing up as and what are you doing?

I really don’t want summer to end. Proving this is everything I’ve been eyeing on the internet. Here’s a little round-up:

Les Yeux Sans Visage posted some of the Sretsis Fall 2013 collection, and holy crap I’m in love with everything about this look. I guess I’m not the only one not wanting to let go of Spring/Summer looks in the Fall. Totally unnecessary side-note: I NEED THIS JACKET!

Here’s a little peek into my bathroom. From a previous post where I showed you some of my little apartment you probably remember how much joy I get from decorating my place with all the little vintage bits and baubles that make me happy. I guess that’s what living a vintage lifestyle is all about. Want to inject some vintage happiness into your life? Here are some tips.

1) Whatever you need in a bathroom – find it in vintage form! Need something to hold your cotton balls? Use a vintage tea tin. That old cute perfume bottle? Have it hold your eyemakeup remover. You’ve probably seen other vintage ladies use a lady head vase for makeup brushes, but how about using one as a toothbrush holder! A vintage milk glass Jergen’s lotion dispenser is now my dish soap dispenser. A vintage tiki mug (not pictured) now holds some of my everyday makeup. Switching out all your bathroom containers is a great way to inject vintage into your bathroom in a functional way.

2) Vintage-ify your window dressings! You can search for the perfect barkcloth curtains, or the cutest vintage novelty print fabric with mermaids and make your own drapes, but I needed a curtain for my bathroom window pronto. If you’re like me you have a bunch of vintage half aprons that you collected or inherited from your grandmother. And half-aprons…. um, who actually wears those today? Come on! I’ve worn a couple maybe a couple times. But they’re so cute! So I had an aha moment when I was putting away the aprons — pin them together, I can see them everyday AND they’ll be like curtains! Done and done. Now I get to see my grandma’s cute handmade aprons everyday, and I love the way they look. They really add to the girly wonderland that is my apartment.

3) Use those vintage towels! I know there are some people who are afraid to use vintage because you don’t want to wreck or stain them. I’m not one of those people. I like using items the way they were intended to be used and a great example of that are cute embroidered and appliqued hand towels. Mix them in with your new towels for you and your guests to use and it’ll really standout. Although not pictured in this manner, a favorite way to display the vintage towels are hanging over my bathtowels, folded over the towel rack.

4) Function-alize your vintage decor! I made the brooch display last year. It’s such an easy DIY and so useful. My brooch-wearing went up instantly this year because I saw them everyday when I was thinking about what to wear. It’s a piece of art that you can wear. So think of devoting some wall space in the same way with your necklaces, scarves, or other accessories.

5) Display your vintage ephemera! If you’re like me you have a hard time throwing out vintage packaging and you collect all kinds of quirky vintage ephemera. Don’t stuff them in a drawer – put them out! This little ledge above my sink was just an empty space before, but now it’s a little showcase of vintage cuteness – a blow-up hanger package, a glove soap booklet, and a hair net package, all sit on that little ledge.

Hope you enjoyed this post. What do you have in your bathroom that you love?

I was hanging out with Tina the other day, and it never fails that we get some kind of comment from people. I get it on my own as well, but when I’m with another girl who also dresses vintage I think it just blows people’s minds. I was inspired to make some graphics combating some of the comments I tend to receive.

I mean, I’ve even had people laugh in my face! I have to say though that I’m always a bit surprised when I do get weird responses or comments. I’m lucky enough to live in an area where pretty much anything goes. What would you add to this list?

Our friends got married a couple weekends ago and the wedding was FUN. Camping was involved – in a beautiful spot on this vineyard with a little lake. There was fireworks, dancing, bonfires, and ghost stories. It was actually the first time Ben and I have been camping since we’ve been together, and it’s got me excited for more weekend camping trips with friends.

Knowing I would be camping I brought my easy 1990s dress. It’s a good thing I did, too, because when I was chasing a runaway roll of paper towels to save it from falling into the lake, I ended up falling in myself! Could you imagine if I slid in the mud, into the water in some 1940s perfection? It’s for this reason that I keep my eyes peeled for these 90s frocks at thrift stores. They’ve become throw-on staples for work, play, travel. Even their odd mid-calf lengths have grown on me.

JESUS!

I adored the DIY/thrift store vibe of the wedding decor; handmade gingham bunting, daisies and sunflowers, and the pick-a-mug-to-drink-from-and-keep table. I managed to take home a couple cute vintage mugs. The tables were decorated with quirky thrift store finds, coordinated by color. I loved how personal the touches were, such a reflection of the quirky and fun couple.

The view from our tent in the morning. I loved seeing the steam rise from the lake. Gorgeous.